The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1887-08-11
Remarkable Story.
PROSECUTING JOHN ROHN FOR A
MURDER NEVER COMMITTED.
Kansas City Times.

! Kansas City Times
The Prosecuting Attorney ol
Tama CO., To-, boarded an early
morning tram for Toledo, follow
ed by John Holm, both on theil
way TO clear up..a case of suppos
ed murder. There was not "a cit
izen IN Tama county, who dc
not believe that John Holm haC
been foully murdered. The granC
jury had twice convened TO con-
slider the case, and the suspicion
OF guilt was turned strongly
against John Rohn, well-to-d(
farmer and boardInghouse keep
er. Twice had a mob. led by hot
headed citizens, attempted te
take Rohn out OF his house anG
hang him 10 the nearest tree
Each time he concealed himsel
and finally disappeared in as mys
terious a manner as John Holm
A heavy reward was offered and
the county went TO great expense
to track the supposed fugitive
murderer.
ALI this time John Holm was
serving as a waiter in the restau-
rant at No. 57l Walnut ST., this
city. He had applied for work
almost two months ago, and
about two weeks after his disap-
pearance from Toledo. During
that time the Grand Jury had in
vestigated the case, a warrant is
sued, and Rohn's preliminary ex.
animation on the charge of mur.
der had been held. Rohn was
released because no evidence
could be brought against him. A
number of citizens in the Ger
man settlement of the town were
suspected and the town was mp
in arms over the. fearfulsmurder
which they supposed had been
committed. A vigilance COM
mittee was formed and ono of
Rohn's neiehbors was strung up
to a tree several times and left
almost dead. He was asked 10
reveal the place where Hohn's
body had been concealed, and
declaring each time that lie knew
nothing of it, was repeatedly
hung by the neck until he was
black in the face.
After the preliminary eXami-
nation was over and Rohn was
released, public anger rose 10 fe-
yer heat. A mob visited the
house twice with the intention of
lynching him. The first time he
made his way out of back door
and concealed himself in the
woods. The second time he
crowded himself under a barrel
in the cellar. During the search
one of the mob leaned his arm
upon 1t without discovering him.
Finally matters grew too warm
for Rohn and he left the country.
This fastened the suspicion on
him stronger than ever and a
heavy reward was offered for
him by the people at mass meet
ing.
About two weeks before this
occurred, John Holm, in speaking
10 a crowd of loafers, said:
81 will tell you one thing, and
that is this woman you were
talking about Is not exactly the
best in The town.
One of them asked which .wo.
man he meant, but he would not
say. The crowd. however, had
been speaking of two or three
women. including Rohn's wife.
Some one then went to Rchn and
told him that Holm had made
some remarks about his wife,
Holm was boarding at Rohn's
place at the time. He was pro
badly told by Holm that he in
tended to kill him shohld he hear
any more rumors regarding any
alleged misconduct OF his wife.
In the account told by the To-
cal newspapers at The time when
it was supposed the murder had
taken place, it was said that Holm
was paid to superintend Rohn's
farm and the care Of his horses
and cattle. 1t was charged that
kohn became intensely jealous
of Holm, and thought he was al
'enating the affections of his wife.
The remarks Rohn was charged |
With making were cited in favor
Of this theory. II was shown
that Rohn entered Hohn's bed
room at ten o'clock at night. He
hen ordered him TO get up and |
feed some salt TO the horses and |
cattle. Inmates of the adjoining
rooms heard Rohn 60 this, and |
heard Holm tell him that it was
4 strange hour of the night TO get
Iim out TO salt cattle. They
heard R1hn say, "Well you for
col it today, and will have to do
t now"
Holm then arose and left the
house and was not seen again.
All The fats in the case were
against Rohn, and it appeared
hat he had committed a very